India to protest if Indians are adversely affected by H-1B changes

India will protest if Indian professionals are adversely affected by any H-1B changes said an official of the Government of India. We are keeping a close eye if the US publishes a list of credentials for determining the preferred skills. This is for workers who file an application for the provisional Work Visas, said the officer. We will object if it is tied with obtaining an advanced degree in the US, added the official.

The US Government has so far not intimated us regarding the proposals to reverse the selection process for H-1B Visas said the official. This is for offering first preference to Masters or higher degree holders in the US. Nevertheless, we are keeping a close eye on the H-1B changes. We will raise objections in case the allocation for Indian professionals is affected, added the Government of India official.

The changes for the lottery for H-1B Visas were announced by the Department for Homeland Securities in the US in January this year. It declared the reversal in the selection order, as quoted by the Hindu Businessline. DHS added that it also intends to alter the definition of specialty jobs.

We do not have the data of the number of advanced US degree holders applying for Work Visas said the officer. The % of the H-1B allocation filled up by them is also yet to be known. However, both NASSCOM and Government of India are now finding out about this, added the official.

The US Government has been discussing a lot of H-1B changes said the Indian Government official. However, nothing has been implemented till date by them that would affect the Indian professionals, added the officer.